In a world filled with belief systems making religious claims, how can you know what to believe? How can you know who to follow? This brochure offers ten pieces of evidence and witness that verify that following Christ is reasonable. As this evidence is examined and tested—we find that it can also be trusted.

A Public Execution Assured His Death

During the Jewish Feast of Passover, Jesus was swept away by an angry crowd into a Roman hall of justice. As He stood before Pilate, the governor of Judea, religious leaders accused Jesus of claiming to be the king of the Jews. The crowd demanded His death. Jesus was beaten, whipped, and sentenced to a public execution. On a hill outside of Jerusalem, He was crucified between two criminals. Brokenhearted friends and mocking enemies shared in His deathwatch. As the Sabbath neared, Roman soldiers were sent to finish the execution. To quicken death, they broke the legs of the two criminals. But when they came to Jesus they did not break His legs, because from experience they knew He was already dead. As a final precaution, however, they thrust a spear into His side. It would take more than resuscitation for Him to ever trouble them again.

A High Official Secured The Gravesite

The next day, religious leaders again met with Pilate. They said Jesus had predicted He would rise in 3 days. To assure that the disciples could not conspire in a resurrection hoax, Pilate ordered the official seal of Rome to be attached to the tomb to put graverobbers on notice. To enforce the order, soldiers stood guard. Any disciple who wanted to tamper with the body would have had to get by them, which wouldn’t have been easy. The Roman guards had good reason for staying alert–the penalty for falling asleep while on watch was death.

In Spite Of Guards, The Grave Was Found Empty

On the morning after the Sabbath, some of Jesus’ followers went to the grave to anoint His body. But when they arrived, they were surprised at what they found. The huge stone that had been rolled into place over the entrance to the tomb had been moved, and Jesus’ body was gone. As word got out, two disciples rushed to the burial site. The tomb was empty except for Jesus’ burial wrappings, which were lying neatly in place. In the meantime, some of the guards had gone into Jerusalem to tell the Jewish officials that they had fainted in the presence of a supernatural being that rolled the stone away. And when they woke up, the tomb was empty. The officials paid the guards a large sum of money to lie and say that the disciples stole the body while the soldiers slept. They assured the guards that if the report of the missing body got back to the governor they would intercede on their behalf.

Many People Claimed To Have Seen Him Alive

About AD 55, the apostle Paul wrote that the resurrected Christ had been seen by Peter, the 12 apostles, more than 500 people (many of whom were still alive at the time of his writing), James, and himself (1 Corinthians 15:5-8). By making such a public statement, he gave critics a chance to check out his claims for themselves. In addition, the New Testament begins its history of the followers of Christ by saying that Jesus “presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by [the apostles] during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).

His Apostles Were Dramatically Changed

When one of Jesus’ inner circle defected and betrayed Him, the other apostles ran for their lives. Even Peter, who earlier had insisted that he was ready to die for his teacher, lost heart and denied that he even knew Jesus. But the apostles went through a dramatic change. Within a few weeks, they were standing face to face with the ones who had crucified their leader. Their spirit was like iron. They became unstoppable in their determination to sacrifice everything for the one they called Savior and Lord. Even after they were imprisoned, threatened, and forbidden to speak in the name of Jesus, the apostles said to the Jewish leaders, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). After they were beaten for disobeying the orders of the Jewish council, these once-cowardly apostles “did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42).

Witnesses Were Willing To Die For Their Claims

History is full of martyrs. Countless men and women have died for their beliefs. For that reason, it is not that significant to point out that the first disciples were willing to suffer and die for their faith. But it is significant that while many will die for what they believe to be the truth, few if any will die for what they know to be a lie. That psychological fact is important because the disciples of Christ did not die for deeply held beliefs about which they could have been honestly mistaken. They died for their claims to have seen Jesus alive and well after His resurrection. They died for their claim that Jesus Christ had not only died for their sins but that He had risen bodily from the dead to show that He was like no other spiritual leader who had ever lived.

Jewish Believers Changed Their Day Of Worship

The Sabbath day of rest and worship was basic to the Jewish way of life. Any Jew who did not honor the Sabbath was guilty of breaking the law of Moses. Yet Jewish followers of Christ began worshiping with Gentile believers on a new day. The first day of the week, the day on which they believed Christ had risen from the dead, replaced the Sabbath. For a Jew, it reflected a major change of life. The new day, along with the Christian conversion rite of baptism, declared that those who believed Christ had risen from the dead were ready for more than a renewal of Judaism. They believed that the death and resurrection of Christ had cleared the way for a new relationship with God. The new way was based not on the law, but on the sin-bearing, life-giving help of a resurrected Savior.

Although It Was Unexpected, It Was Clearly Predicted

The disciples were caught off guard. They expected their Messiah to restore the kingdom to Israel. Their minds were so fixed on the coming of a messianic political kingdom that they didn’t anticipate the events essential to the salvation of their souls. They must have thought Christ was speaking in symbolic language when He kept saying over and over that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem to die and be resurrected from the dead. Coming from one who spoke in parables, they missed the obvious until after it was all over. In the process, they also overlooked the prophet Isaiah’s prediction of a suffering servant who would bear the sins of Israel, being led like a lamb to the slaughter, before God “prolong[ed] His days” (Isaiah 53:10).

It Was A Fitting Climax To A Miraculous Life

While Jesus hung on a Roman cross, crowds mocked Him. He helped others, but could He help Himself? Was the miracle suddenly coming to an end? It seemed like such an unexpected ending for someone who began His public life by turning water into wine. During His 3-year ministry, He walked on water; healed the sick; opened blind eyes, deaf ears, and tongue-tied mouths; restored crippled limbs; cast out demons; stilled a violent storm; and raised the dead. He asked questions wise men couldn’t answer. He taught profound truths with the simplest of comparisons. And He confronted hypocrites with words that exposed their coverup. If all this was true, should we be surprised that His enemies didn’t have the last word?

It Fits The Experience Of Those Who Trust Him

The apostle Paul wrote, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). This was the experience of Paul, whose heart was dramatically changed by the resurrected Christ. It is also the experience of people all over the world who have “died” to their old ways so that Christ can live His life through them. This spiritual power is not evident in those who try to add belief in Christ to their old life. It is seen only in those who are willing to “die” to their old life to make room for the rule of Christ. It is apparent only in those who respond to the overwhelming evidence for Christ’s resurrection by acknowledging His lordship in their heart.

You’re Not Alone

You’re Not Alone

You’re not alone if you find yourself honestly unconvinced about whether Christ rose from the dead. But keep in mind that Jesus promised God’s help to those who want to be right with God. He said, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own” (John 7:17 NIV).

If you do see the reasonableness of the resurrection, keep in mind that the Bible says Christ died to pay the price for our sins, and those who believe in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead will be saved (Romans 10:9-10). The salvation Christ offers is not a reward for effort, but a gift to all who in light of the evidence put their trust in Him.

Source: http://discoveryseries.org/ten-reasons/christ-rose-from-the-dead/

 I Petrus 5:2: Yohanes  12:15-17

Pendahuluan

Gembala adalah orang yang bertugas menjaga ternak dan menjadi gembala merupakan pekerjaan yang keras dan membutuhkan keahlian khusus untuk  menjaga ternak, untuk merawat, untuk memberi makan dan lain sebagainya. Pokoknya, menjadi  gembala perlu pengorbanan baik dari segi waktu dan tenaga.

Siapakah  Gembala Itu  Sebenarnya?

Kebanyakan di antara kita selalu menghindar dengan mengatakan akh saya tidak memiliki jawatan sebagai gembala, jadi saya tidak bertanggung jawab atas domba-domba yang ada dalam gereja itu tanggung jawab pendeta, itu tanggung jawab pengerja. Mari kita lihat siapakah sebenarnya gembala itu?

1. Gembala yang sesungguhnya adalah Yesus Kristus (Yoh 10:11)
2. Dalam persekutuan, Gembala adalah Pimpinan Gereja entah Pdt, Pastor atau apapun namanya yang memimpin Organisasi tersebut.
3. Kita yang mengaku diri adalah Pengikut Kristus adalah Gembala, tugas penggembalaan telah kita mulai dari keluarga kita sendiri, dan rumah tangga kita sendiri.

Jadi, rubahlah cara pikir kita, rubahlah cara pandang kita bahwa tugas penggembalaan juga merupakan tugas kita yang kita bisa mulai dari keluarga kita sendiri.

Tugas-Tugas Gembala.

Yohanes 10:11-14

• Melindungi domba-dombanya (Yoh:11)
• Mengenal domba-dombaNya(Yoh 10:14)

Mazmur 23:1-3

• Memberi tempat istirahat
• Memberi minum
• Menuntun pada jalan yang benar

Yeheskel 34:16

• Mencari yang hilang
• Membalut yang luka
• Menguatkan yang sakit
• Melindungi yang gemuk dan kuat.

Inilah tugas-tugas yang harus dilakukan seorang gembala. Jika tugas-tugas ini tidak dilaksanakan maka kita akan disebut orang upahan, yang tidak memilki tanggung jawab dan melarikan diri ketika ada beruang dan srigala yang menerkam domba-dombanya. Nah orang-orang seperti ini akan medapat bagiannya.

Dalam Yesaya 56:10-11 dijelaskan gelar-gelar bagi yang  tidak menggembalakan domba-domba yang dipecayakan pada kita.

• Akan disebut Orang buta (penyesat)
• Akan disebut tidak tahu apa-apa (bodoh)
• Akan disebut anjing-anjing bisu tidak tahu menyalak
• Akan disebut anjing-anjing pelahap yang tidak tahu kenyang (tamak, rakus)

Biasanya, mereka yang tidak melakukan tugas dengan baik akan mencari alasan-alasan untuk membenarkan apa yang mereka buat bahkan, dengan mudahnya ucapan mereka mulai melakukan fitnah (gossip yang tidak benar) terhadap gembala yang betul-betul melakukan tugasnya. Ini terjadi karena motivasi dalam pelayanan sudah berubah drastis! Gembala -gembala yang tidak melakukan tugasnya akan selalu menghindar. Mereka sudah kehilangan segala sesuatu yang menjadi dasar pelayanan mereka. Dasar perintah untuk menggembalakan adalah “KASIH AKAN YESUS”. Ketika Yesus Kristus pertama kali memerintahkan penggembalaan pada Petrus kalimat pertama yang muncul adalah,”APAKAH ENGKAU MENGASIHI AKU? GEMBALAKAN DOMBA-DOMBA KU”. Bahkan sampai tiga kali perintah ini diberikan kepada Petrus, mari tilik kembali motivasi pelayanan kita dalam menggembalakan  domba -domba Tuhan Yesus Kristus  yang dipercayakan pada kita. Pertanyaan hakliki yang dapat kita ungkapkan sebagai refleksi pada diri sendiri adalah,

1) Apakah aku melayani hanya karena ditugaskan oleh Organisasi Gereja di mana kita bernaung?

2) Apakah kita menjadi gembala karena kompensasi? Kegagalalan dalam klehidupan “sekuler”  baik secara finansial maupun secara sosial sehingga kita merasa gagal dan mencoba peruntungan di dunia yang berbeda. Melayani bukanlah sebuah kompensasi namun, sebuah panggilan yang harus dipenuhi!

3) Ataukah menjadi gembala karena merasa bertanggung jawab atas dasar mengasihi Yesus Kristus. Ingatlah selalu perkataan Kristus pada Petrus, “Apakah engkau mengasihi Aku? Gembalakanlah domba-dombaKu”

Saudara dampak yang harus mereka terima lihat Mazmur 109:7-11:

1). Apabila dihakimi keluar sebagai orang yang bersalah

2) Umurnya berkuran dan jabatannya diambil orang lain

3) anak-anaknya menjadi yatim dan isterinya menjadi janda

4)Anak-anaknya mengembara dan mengemis,dihalau dari reruntuhan rumahnya.

5) Penagih hutang menyita segala kepunyaannya dan orang menjarah hasil jerih payahnya

Saudara betapa mengerikan dampak yang akan kita terima jika kita hanya mau bersilat lidah karena kita tidak melakukan tugas dengan baik dan benar menurut harapn Tuhan kita.

Penutup

Oleh karena itu marilah kitayang telah dipanggil, dipilih lakukan dengan setia tugas penggembalaan yang telah diberikankepada kita dengan penuh tanggung jawab maka berkatlah yang menyertai kita jadilah “GEMBALA” lewat karakter kita .

Scripture: Yeremia 29: 1-14

Introduksi.

                Heraclitus, filsuf Yunani, yang hidup tahun 535-475 SM mengatakan, “tidak ada yang permanen kecuali perubahan”. Artinya, apapun yang ada di bawah matahari ini akan selalu berubah. Perubahan yang terjadi kadang menjadi lebih enak ataupun menjadi lebih buruk. Jika perubahan itu kea rah lebih baik maka kita kita tidak memiliki masalah namun, bagaimana perubahan itu kea rah yang buruk?MIsalnya, tiba-tiba kawan dekat kita berubah menjadi musuh dalam selimut yang menikam kita dari belakang? Atau bagaimana jika kondisi keuangan kita tiba-tiba menurun drastis dengan ijin Tuhan,  ataupun tiba-tiba orang yang kita cintai entah itu suami, istri, orang tua atau anak-anak kita meninggal ? Apa yang harus kita lakukan ketika perubahan yang tidak kita inginkan menimpa kita?

Marilah kita menyimak surat kiriman Nabi Yeremia kepada orang-orang Israel, yang diangkut dalam pembuangan di Babel oleh Raja Nebukadnesar sebagai nasehat.

1). Life Must Go On What Ever Happened. (Yeremia 29:4-6).

                Saudara, banyak di antara kita ketika menghadapi perubahan yang tidak harapkan mengalami, stress ringan,  sampai Stress berat alias(gila)  bahkan ada yang tragis sampai mengakhiri hidupnya karena beban terasa sangat berat. Demikian juga dengan kita ketika merasa kesalah kita diceritakan orang rasanya mau mati saja entah mau ditaruh dimana wajah ini.

Namun firman Allah hari ini memberikan kekuatan. Yeremia dalam suratnya kepada orang Isarael di pembuangan mengatakan : “dirikanlah rumah”, “buatlah kebun”  ambilah istri bagimu, menantu bagi anak-anakmu” merujuk kepada, “Life must go on (Hidup harus tetap berjalan!!) Jalanilah hidup ini senormal mungkin walaupun kehidupan telah berubah!

 a.Dirikanlah Rumah!

Hal pertama yang harus dilakukan adalah berada dalam rumah. Entah itu milik kita sendiri, ataupun kita kost tidak mengapa karena  apapun yang terjadi selama kita masih bisa bernaung ketika panas terik, dan masih memiliki tempat  untuk berteduh ketika hujan maka segala sesuatu bisa di mulai dari rumah.

Rumah juga memiliki makna umum tempat untuk bernaung, kalo secara fisilk tempat bernaung kita pasti mengatakan RUMAH, namun kita juga tempat perlindungan yang kokoh dan kuat dan darisanalah pertolongan pertama itu datang, yaitu TUHAN .” Pertolonganku ialah dari TUHAN, yang menjadikan langit dan bumi” (Mazmur 121:2).

Tariklah hadirat Tuhan turun atas rumah kita, sekali lagi buatlah Tuhan tertarik dengan kita. Hadirat Tuhan hanya bisa turun kalau kita dekat dengan Dia, kalau kita menjadi sahabatNya. Ingat cerita Lazarus adik Marta dan Maria? Mengapa Yesus mau datang ke rumah mereka(Yohanes 11)? Karena  mereka sahabat Yesus, bahkan Maria dan Marta berkata kepada Yesus, “dia yang Engkau kasihi  sakit” (Yoh 11:3) kunci mengapa Yesus mengasihi mereka karena Maria mengambil bagian dalam pelayanan dengan duduk di kaki Kristus hanya dengan demikian kita bisa menjadi sahabatNya.

b.    Buatlah Kebun.

Buat kebun memiliki makna apapun yang terjadi pada kita tetap tenang dan carilah pekerjaan apabila kita belum bekerja apa saja asal tidak bertentangan dengan firman Tuhan. Bekerjalah seperti semula seperti tidak terjadi apa-apa. Karena jika perubahan itu mempengaruhi keadaan psikis kita sampai kita tidak bisa bekerja maka hidup kita akan semakin tenggelam dalam keadaan yang buruk.  Kita harus memilki prinsip kerja yang benar, “Apa pun juga yang kamu perbuat, perbuatlah dengan segenap hatimu seperti untuk Tuhan dan bukan untuk manusia” (Kolose 3:23).

c.Ambilah Istri bagimu.

Tugas dalam keluarga harus tetap dijalankan seperti semestinya. Banyak kali keluarga, ketika menghadapi perubahan yang tidak diingankan suami dan istri tidak lagi bisa bersatu(having sex); kecuali bagi mereka yg sudah masuk masa –masa “mati pucuk” dimana “rasa itu” sudah hilang inilah yang membuat hubungan dalam keluarga semakin retak dan bisa membuat perpecahan yang dalam tetaplah lakukan tugas sebagai suami dan istri sebagaimana yang diminta Tuhan kepada kita. Pada Firman yang kita baca  dikatakan ambilah suami, Karena Tuhan ingin pria yang bertindak karena mereka adalah pimpinan dan kepala dalam keluarga. Artinya, suamilah atau ayah lah yang harus mulai bertindak ….

2) Give a Positive Impact to Your Neigbhour. (Yeremia 29;7)

a. Kalahkan situasi yang buruk .

Artinya, Tuhan tidak mau kita larut dalam ketakutan, kecemasan , kesedihan, perasaan duka, namun Dia mau kita bangkit dan lakukan sesuatu nyata yang dapat membangkitkan gairah hidup kita kembali kepadaNya. Mulailah dengan “memperkatakan firman Allah”..yang berkaitan dengan masalah kita.

Situasi merupakan sesuatu yang abstrak dan menekankan kita secara “roh”. Dia akan sangat kuat menekan kita jika, kita tidak memiliki jejuatan secara “Roh” yang Tuhan berikan kepada kita, dan sumbernya dari pikiran. Setiap aktifitas dan kegiatan bersunber dari hati dan akan mempengaruhi pikiran kita. Ilmu pengetahuan akan menilai dari sudut pandang berbeda berdasarkan fakta, bukti konkrit yang bisa di telaah dengan menggunakan semua indera (senses)  yang kita miliki sehingga tiba pada kesimpulan akhir. Secara ilmiah kita akan berkata,”kertas putih” apabila kita melihat benda berbentuk kertas yang warnanya putih, ini yang dinamakan kebenaran absolute menurut ukuran pengetahuan karena sudah disepakati oleh manusia (yg ada dalam referent manusia) dimana setiap manusia akan mepergunakan alam berpikirnya (logika) lebih dominan dibandingkan hatinya (Iman)untuk menyelesaikan segala sesuatu yang menghimpit hidupnya.

Mengalahkan situasi yang buruk dalam hidup kita bisa dimulai dengan mulut dan bibir kita yang memperkatakan hal yang positip. Perkatakanlah hal yang sifatnya membangun,menguatkan dan memberkati maka percayalah “atmosphere” di sekitar kita akan berubah menjadi tenang dan menyejukkan jati kita. Intinya, perkatakan firman !

b. Lakukan yang baik dan yang mendatangkan Damai Sejahtera

Ketika kita mengalami masalah jangan kita menambah masalah baru yang, kita kira dapat menyelesaikan masalah  namun sebenarnya tidak!! Jangan berdusta, mencuri, korupsi atau menyakiti orang, ini tidak mendatangkan damai sejahtera namun mendatangkan celaka bagi kita sendiri.

“Segala sesuatu yang kamu kehendaki…………..” (Matius 7:12).

3). There is a limitation for everything(Yeremia 29:10)

a. Segala sesuatu ada waktunya.

Dalam ayat yang kita baca Tuhan mengatakan hanya 70 tahun, memang bukan waktu yang singkat, tetapi intinya ada waktu pembebasan (Pengkhotbah 3:1-8). Jangan putus asa, jika saat ini kita terjepit, percayalah ada waktunya saat pemulihan tiba.

b. Pada waktunya Tuhan akan memulihkan keadaan kita.

Sekiranya perubahan itu terjadi dengan seizin Tuhan percayalah hal itu akan berguna bagi kita. Lihatlah apa yang dikatakan Tuhan pada Yakub, sebenarnya juga berlaku bagi kita, “sesungguhnya Aku menyertai engkau dan Aku akan melindungi engkau……………”(Kejadian 28:15). Tuhan berjanji menyertai, melindungi, tidak meninggalkan kita dan Dia tetap menepati  janjiNya

4. BELIEVE IN GOD’S PROMISSES ( Yeremia 29:11-14 ; Ratapan 3:31-33)

Melalui ayat ini Tuhan mengajak kita untuk melihat permasalahan dalam prospek yang lebih luas dan jauh ke depan . bukan hanya kesusahan yang kita alami yang di lihat tapi katakanlah pada diri, “apa yang mau disampaikan Tuhan kepada saya? Apa yang harus aku buat untuk mempermuliakan Nya?

Jadi , jika terjadi perubahan yang tidak kita inginkan terjadi , tetap lakukan apa yang harus kita lakukan. Kehidupan akan terus berjalan. Jalanilah hidup ini dengan sikap positip sehingga memberi dampak bagi lingkungan. Tetaplah berhubungan dengan Tuhan lewat doa, permohonan yang disertai dengan ucapan syukur, belajarlah untuk bersabar, bertekun dalam Tuhan karena semuanya pasti berakhir  karena, DIA tidak pernah meninggalkan kita!!!

AMIN

Sumber :

Alkitab Terjemahan Baru (LAI)

Manna Sorgawi,2010

“Ye must be born again.” John 3:7

The answer to the question “How can a man he born when he is old?” is – When he is old enough to die – to die right out to his “rag rights,” to his virtues, to his religion, to everything, and to receive into himself the life which never was there before. The new life manifests itself in conscious repentance and unconscious holiness. “As many as received Him.” (John 1:12.) Is my knowledge of Jesus born of internal spiritual perception, or is it only what I have learned by listening to others? Have I something in my life that connects me with the Lord Jesus as my personal Saviour? All spiritual history must have a personal knowledge for its bedrock. To be born again means that I see Jesus. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3.) Do I seek for signs of the Kingdom, or do I perceive God’s rule? The new birth gives a new power of vision whereby I begin to discern God’s rule. His rule was there all the time, but true to His nature; now that I have received His nature I can see His rule. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” (1 John 3:9.) Do I seek to stop sinning or have I stopped sinning? To be born of God means that I have the supernatural power of God to stop sinning. In the Bible it is never – Should a Christian sin? The Bible puts it emphatically – A Christian must not sin. The effective working of the new birth life in us is that we do not commit sin, not merely that we have the power not to sin, but that we have stopped sinning. 1 John 3:9 does not mean that we cannot sin; it means that if we obey the life of God in us, we need not sin.

(http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/my_utmost/utm.cgi)

Introduksi. Pada saat Tuhan menciptakan langit, bumi dan segala isinya dimana manusia merupakan salah satu di antara ciptaanNya. Manusia dianggap memiliki keistimewaan di antara ciptaan lainnya yang bernafas seperti, tumbuhan atau binatang. Keistimewaan manusia itu terletak pada kuasa yg diberikan san pencipta kepadanya ….(Kejadian 1:26 ; 2:16). Kekuasaan manusia atas binatang dantumbuhan ini terjadi sebelum mereka jatuh ke dalam dosa dan kekacauan belum terjadi. Sesudah jatuh dalam dosa, keistimewaan manusia seakan-akan sirna, misalnya dominasi manusia atas binata masih berlaku, namun pada situasi tertentu kita sebagai manusia kalah terhadap binatang bahkan kita sering takut dan gentar ketika berhadapan dengan binatang. Misalnya dalam hal kekuatan, kita kalah jaud dibandingkan dengan kuda yang mampu berlari begitu dalam, kita sering takut kalau ketemu Srigala, Ular dan bahkan pada anjing gila pun kita harus berhati-hati jangan kena gigitan dan menyebabkan “rabies’. Bagi sesama, kita bukan lagi menjadi saudara sahabat namun kita menjadi “homo homini lupus (srigala bagi sesama). Buktinya, nyawa manusia sudah menjdai tidak berharga di hadapan manusia lain hal yang paling memiriskan ada ibu yang tega membunuh bayinya sendiri , ada isteri yang memutilasi suami atau sebaliknya. Ini menunjukan seakan-akan nyawa manusia tidak berharga sama sekali dan bisa di substitusi dengan apa yg berharga menurut ukuran dunia. Kejatuhan manusia dalam dosa inilah yang membuat manusia sepertinya di sejajarkan atau bahkan tingkatannya di bawah ciptaan Tuhan yang lainnya. Manusia bahkan dianggap lebih jahat dari pada binatang karena karakter “binatang lebih banyak kita miliki di banding dengan binatang itu sendiri. Kebejatan moral sangat Nampak Inilah alas an mengapa manusia mengalami hal-hal buruk yang diijinkan Tuhan berlaku bagi kita. Dosa dan kesalahan kita membuat kita jatuh semakin jauh dalam kejahatan sampai-sampai Yohanes dalam kitab Wahyu menulis kepada jemaat di Efesus, “sebab itu ingatlah betapa dalamnya engkau telah jatuh…….”(Wahyu 2:5). Tetapi Tuhan kita baik tidak ada Tuhan seperti Tuhan kita, dalam keslahan kita dalam kebejadan moral kita, Tuhan mau mengembalikan posisi kita tidak bercacat cela sebagaimana Adam dan Hawa sebelum jatuh dalam dosa. Itulah kasih karunia Allah kepada kita yang tidak tergantikan dengan apapun juga. Harusnya kita ini berkata seperti Daud berkata, “Ya TUHAN, apakah manusia itu, sehingga Engkau memperhatikannya, dan anak manusia, sehingga Engkau memperhitungkannya?” (Mazmur 144:3). Allah memiliki alas an mengapa kita begitu “Berharga di hadapanNya”. Mari kita selidiki alas an mengapa kita begitu berharga di di hadapanNya sehingga AnakNya pun di utus untuk keselamatan kita.

II. Mengapa kita berharga di hadapanNya?

Apakah keistimewaan manusia sehingga Yesus Kristus anak Allah itu mau mati dan berkorban bagi kita. Kita sangat berharga di hadapan Allah karena , a. Kita diciptakan menurut” gambar dan rupa” (Citra,image) Allah itu berarti fisik dan karakter menyerupai Allah. Dengan kata lain, kita ini milik kepunyaanNya yang terbaik yang pernah diciptakan. Ilustrasi: Dulu saya sangat senang sekali mendengar atau membaca cerita “Pinokio”. Dalam cerita itu ada seorang tukang kayu pembuat boneka kayu namanya Pepito. Dari sebuah karyanya ada satu yang paling baik dan sangat menyerupai manusia, saking cintanya Pepito pada boneka ini dia berharap boneka ini hidup dan ternyata harapn nya menjadi kenyataan nama boneka itu Pinokio. Sebagai hasil karyanya dia sangat menyanyangi boneka itu. Cerita yang sama berlaku juga bagi kita umat ciptaanNya, Dia sangat menyanyangi kita. Karena kita ini adalah kreasi atau ciptaan Allah yang terbaik karna menyerupai diriNya atau citra Allah ada dalam diri kita. Para pengkhotbah terdahulu telah membicarakan citra Anak Allah namun, tidak ada salahnya saya merfresh kembali citra dir Allah yang ada pada kita sehingga membuat kita begitu berharga. Citra diri bicara karakter , karakaternya Allah itu, : • Berkuasa (Roma 9:19,21) • Kudus (I Samuel 2:2) • Allah itu Roh (Yohanes 4:24) • Allah itu Kasih (I Yoh 3:1) • Allah tidak berdosa (I Yoh 3:4) Alasan pertama mengapa kita ini berharga di hadapan Tuhan karena, kita ini umat ciptaanNya miliki kepunyaanNya dan Citra Allah yang ada dalam diri kita. b.Alasan kedua, mengapa kita berharaga, Karena kita biji mata Allah (Mazmur 17:8; Zakaria 2:8b). Setiap kita pasti merasa, bahwa mata merupakan oragn yang penting dalam tubuh kita. Dengan mata kita bisa melihat berbagai warna, dengan mata kita bisa melihat kelahiran, pendewasaan, pernikahan, beranak cucu. Dengan mata kita bisa menyaksikan kebahagiaan dengan mata yang sama pula kita melihat tangisan kesedihan dan cucuran air mata. Fungsi mata juga bisa mempengaruh jiwa kita, Firman berkata, jika mata kita gelap maka gelaplah jiwa kita”. Kalau kita ini adalah biji mata Allah berarti kita harus melihat seperti Tuhan melihat. Dimakah sajakah Tuhan memandang? Dia memandang segala tempat “Mata Tuhan ada di segala temapat mengawasi orang jahat dan orang baik” (Amsal 15:3) Apakah sebenarnya yang dilihat Tuhan? 1) Tuhan melihat apa Buruk di mataNya. • Tuhan melihat kejahatan umatNya ( Bil 32:13) • Apa yg jahat :Tuhan sakit hati , cemburu dan menimbulkan murka Tuhan dan bisa menyebabkan kematian !(Bil 32:13,18.;I Raja-Raja 14:22; Kej 38:7) 2) Tuhan melihat apa yg benar di mataNya: • Maka Tuhan akan memenuhi sumpahNya (Ulangan 6:18,). Kita sebagai biji mata Allah akan tetap mendapat perlindungan dari padaNya…(Zakaria 2:8b). b. Alasan ketiga mengapa kita berharga di hadapanNya. Karena tubuh kita adalah Bait Roh Kudus dimana Ia tinggal dan berdiam di dalam kita. (I Korintus 6:19). Allah tidak mau, tempat kediamanNya di tempat orang atau benda lain. Oleh karena Dia mau tempat itu kudus dan suci. Sedangkan bait Allah dalam bentuk rumah ibadah saja Tuhan begitu peduli apalagi diri kita.

III. Respons kita atas penghargaan Tuhan terhadap kita

1. Kita harus mempertahankan kuasa yg telah diberikan kepada kita. Orang yang berkuasa karena Tuhan akan selalu ingat pada Tuhannya, dengan cara: a. Mengucap syukur karena anugerahNya yang besar dengan mengubah status kita menjadi Anak Allah. b. Firman Allah merupakan alat ukur dari segala perbuatan kita c. MEngandalkan Roh Kudus dan mengakui kita mahkluk Tuhan d. Berjalan dengan Iman Pengharapan dan Kasih.

2. Gunakan mata rohani kita untuk melihat hal-hal besar yang Tuhan telah nyatakan dimana mata jasmani kita tidak bisa menjangkaunya. Dimana kah mata rohani kita? Mata rohani kita ada dalam hati..karena Tuhan juga melihat hati orang benar (I Samuel 16:7). Ada contoh dalam Alkitab seorang pemimpin Israel sampe 8 X Tuhan berfirman dalam hal yang sama bagi dia. Yaitu Yosua. Saya mencatat, pertama dalam Ulangan 3:28; Ul 31:6,7 dan 23. Kemudian Yosua 1:6,7,8dan 9. Hati yang bersih akan membuat kita berada dalam hadirat Tuhan setiap hari.

3. Kita persembahkan tubuh kita pada Tuhan. (Roma 12:1). - Persembahan yang HIDUP (bukan mati) …mengabarkan Injil Kerajaan Allah - Persembahan yang KUDUS (tidak bercacat cela)…karakter kita - Persembahan yang BERKENAN kepada Allah. Jika hal ini terjadi maka percayalah kematian Kristus yang telah membangkitkan kita itu akan memberikan kepada kita berkat dari dua arah, pertama berkat selama di bumi :

-I Korintus 2: 9 “Tetapi seperti ada tertulis: “Apa yang tidak pernah dilihat oleh mata, dan tidak pernah didengar oleh telinga, dan yang tidak pernah timbul di dalam hati manusia: semua yang disediakan Allah untuk mereka yang mengasihi Dia.”

- I Petrus 1:4 “untuk menerima suatu bagian yang tidak dapat binasa, yang tidak dapat cemar dan yang tidak dapat layu, yang tersimpan di sorga bagi kamu.

• Yang tidak binasa itu KEKELAN yaitu “kehidupan yang kekal”

• Yang tidak dapat CEMAR itu KEKUDUSAN

• Yang tidak LAYU itu Roh kita bicara teantang semangat dalam memuji, menyembah dan melayani Tuhan

“ Kesimpulan Kenapa kita berharga di mata Tuhan? 1) Kita umat ciptaan Nya , umat kepunyaanNya 2) Kita adalah biji matanNya 3) Kita adalah baitNya.

Oleh karena cinta kasihNya yang besar itu kita diharapkan tidak berbuat dosa lagi. Amin.

–Feature Lesson–

1 – Quiz
2 – New Words from the Vocab Club
3 – Student Essay
4 – Comments on the Essays
5 – Few, A Few, Little, A Little
6 – New Year Traditions
7 – Interesting Facts
8 – Quiz Answers
9 -  Tell Your Friend
10 – Removal
11 – Feedback

–Feature Lesson–
——————
EnglishPractice students  and parents have asked for help for
their children to learn English. This week, EnglishPractice is
continuing a weekly children’s lesson. It will help your children
to learn simple vocabulary and sentence structure. Study the
Feature Lesson at
http://www.englishpractice.com/newsletter/kids1/kidsnews1.htm

Remember: We also have some great software available for purchase
so that you can study offline! Visit the Store at
http://www.englishpractice.com/store/store_intro.htm

1 – Quiz
——–
Complete the following sentences using Few, A Few, Little or A
Little.  Answers are in section 8.  Studying Part 5 will help with
this exercise.

a) She has ______ money in the bank.  She is very poor.
b) There are ______ countries in the world smaller than Andorra.
c) I’m hungry.  Could I have ______ chocolate?
d) She bought ______ books at the bookstore.
e) This coffee is bitter.  It needs ______ sugar.
f)  Are you finished the test?  No, I need ______ more minutes.
g) I’m going to the library.  I need ______ information for my
report.
h) I traveled to Brazil ______ months ago.

2 – New Words From The Vocab Club
———————————
Our Daily Vocab Club has learned seven new words this week. Here
are the seven new words:

reasonable = not extreme or excessive. (adjective)
sink = to go to the bottom. (verb)
thirsty = deficient in moisture. (adjective)
unite = to form a single unit. (verb)
virus = an infective agent. (noun)
wink = to shut one eye briefly. (verb/noun)
authentic = conforming to fact or reality. (adjective)
The EnglishPractice Assistant is now shipping. Thank you to
all who finished your 60 words. When new students are done, they
will get a link to the new software!
Visit the Daily Vocab Club and learn more about our new words at
http://www.englishpractice.com/p40vocabclub/p40lessonmenu.asp

3 – Student Essay
—————–
If you enjoyed reading this essay, you can find more to read at
http://www.englishpractice.com/essays/default.htm. Because only
one essay can be chosen to appear in the newsletter, other
excellent essays submitted to us recently will be posted. The
essays available to read will change regularly. This essay was
submitted by Xiao Fei 2001.

That is a interesting question. Now I am a mother of a ten years
boy. According to my experience a child should become independent
at age eighteen.  Firstly at age eighteen it is a important for
a child transfering into a teengeras well as they finish high
school edcation. Most people will entrance college for farther
education.  They may choose a college near their home. So they
still can stay with their family. But many people choose a college
far away their home.  So they have to be apart from their family.
Secondly they must keep their budget. That is very important thing
for them to manage their daily expense. If they spend money as
water their parents will be worried about their affording.  In my
opinion the earlier a child is independent the more benifets for
both of them. A child will  understand to know how it is hard to
make a live.

4 – Comments about the Essay
—————————-
This is a good essay.  In this writing we can read a mother’s
perspective on a child’s independence.  The writer expresses some
personal ideas and important arguments for us to consider on the
topic such as the child’s moving away, understanding finances, and
learning about the difficulties life presents us with.  This essay
is well done and contains many important points on this topic that
we can relate to and appreciate. There are some points which we
should consider in order to improve the structure of this writing.
In the beginning you should say “I am the mother of a ten year
old boy…”.  This is how we usually express age.  You use a great
English idiom in this essay.  You should say “If they spend money
like water…” or something like this. “Money as water” is a
little different.
Also, be careful of spelling: transferring, teenagers, education,
and benefits.  Apart from these points, this essay is well done
and an interesting read.  Keep going with your English study – it
really looks great!
Good Work Xiao Fei!

5 – Using Few, A Few, Little and A Little
——————————————
The use of few and little can be confusing to those studying
English.  Look at the following guides for using these words.
The phrases a few and a little have a positive meaning.  They talk
about something that you have or something that exists.

- She has a few friends in her new class.
(Positive: She has some friends.)
- George drank a little water because he was thirsty.
(Positive: Some water)

The words few and little have a negative meaning. They talk about
something that you don’t have or something very small, almost
nonexistent.

- She is not popular.  She has few friends in her new class.
(Negative: She does not have many friends; almost no friends)
- George drank little water and now he feels sick.
(Negative: George drank almost no water; very little water.)

You can use Very to make the negative idea stronger or the amount
seem smaller.

- They are very poor.  They have very little money.
(Negative: They practically have no money; almost nothing.)

Important:  Few and a few are used with plural countable nouns.
Little and a little are used with uncountable nouns.

6 – New Year Traditions
———————–
Not all countries celebrate New Year at the same time, nor in the
same way. This is because people in different parts of the world
use different calendars. Long ago, people divided time into days,
months, and years. Some calendars are based on the movement of the
moon, others are based on the position of the sun, while others
are based on both the sun and the moon. All over the world, there
are special beliefs about New Year.

Long Ago Festivals:
Ancient Egypt
In ancient Egypt, New Year was celebrated at the time the River
Nile flooded, which was near the end of September. The flooding of
the Nile was very important because without it, the people would
not have been able to grow crops in the dry desert. At New Year,
statues of the god, Amon and his wife and son were taken up the
Nile by boat. Singing, dancing, and feasting was done for a month,
and then the statues were taken back to the temple.

Babylonia
Babylonia lay in what is now the country of Iraq. Their New Year
was in the Spring. During the festival, the king was stripped of
his clothes and sent away, and for a few days everyone could do
just what they liked. Then the king returned in a grand
procession, dressed in fine robes. Then, everyone had to return to
work and behave properly. Thus, each New Year, the people made a
new start to their lives.

The Romans
For a long time the Romans celebrated New Year on the first of
March. Then, in 46 BC, the Emperor Julius Caesar began a new
calendar. It was the calendar that we still use today, and thus
the New Year date was changed to the first day of January. January
is named after the Roman god Janus, who was always shown as having
two heads. He looked back to the last year and forward to the new
one.
The Roman New Year festival was called the Calends, and people
decorated their homes and gave each other gifts. Slaves and their
masters ate and drank together, and people could do what they
wanted to for a few days.

The Celts
The Celts were the people who lived in Gaul, now called France,
and parts of Britain before the Romans arrived there. Their New
Year festival was called Samhain. It took place at the end of
October, and Samhain means ‘summer’s end’. At Samhain, the Celts
gathered mistletoe to keep ghosts away, because they believed this
was the time when the ghosts of the dead returned to haunt the
living.

Jewish New Year
The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah. It is a holy time
when people think of the things they have done wrong in the past,
and they promise to do better in the future. Special services are
held in synagogues, and an instrument called a Shofar, which is
made from a ram’s horn is played. Children are given new clothes,
and New Year loaves are baked and fruit is eaten to remind people
of harvest time.

Muslim New Year
The Muslim calendar is based on the movements of the moon, so the
date of New Year is eleven days earlier each year. Iran is a
Muslim country which used to be called Persia. The people
celebrate New Year on March 21, and a few weeks before this date,
people put grains of wheat or barley in a little dish to grow. By
the time of New Year, the grains have produced shoots, and this
reminds the people of spring and a new year of life.

Hindu New Year
Most Hindus live in India, but they don’t all celebrate New Year
in the same way or at the same time. The people of West Bengal, in
northern India, like to wear flowers at New Year, and they use
flowers in the colors of pink, red, purple, or white. Women like
to wear yellow, which is the color of Spring. In Kerala, in
southern India, mothers put food, flowers, and little gifts on a
special tray. On New Year’s morning, the children have to keep
their eyes closed until they have been led to the tray. In central
India, orange flags are flown from buildings on New Year’s Day. In
Gujarat, in western India, New Year is celebrated at the end of
October, and it is celebrated at the same time as the Indian
festival of Diwali. At the time of Diwali, small oil lights are
lit all along the roofs of buildings. At New Year, Hindus think
particularly of the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi.

The Far East
Vietnam
In Vietnam, the New Year is called Tet Nguyen Dan or Tet for
short. It begins between January 21 and February 19, and the exact
day changes from year to year. They believe that there is a god in
every home, and at the New Year this god travels to heaven. There
he will say how good or bad each member of the family has been in
the past year. They used to believe that the god traveled on the
back of a fish called a carp, and today, they sometimes buy a live
carp, and then let it go free in a river or pond. They also
believe that the first person to enter their house at New Year
will bring either good or bad luck.

Japan
In Japan, New Year is celebrated on January 1, but the Japanese
also keep some beliefs from their religion, which is called
Shinto. To keep out evil spirits, they hang a rope of straw across
the front of their houses, and this stands for happiness and good
luck. The moment the New Year begins, the Japanese people begin to
laugh, and this is supposed to bring them good luck in the new
year.

Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year is celebrated some time between January 17
and February 19, at the time of the new moon, and it is called
Yuan Tan. It is celebrated by Chinese people all over the world,
and street processions are an exciting part of their New Year. The
Festival of Lanterns is the street processions, and thousands of
lanterns are used to light the way for the New Year. The Chinese
people believe that there are evil spirits around at New Year, so
they let off firecrackers to frighten the spirits away. Sometimes
they seal their windows and doors with paper to keep the evil
spirits out.

New Year in the West
New Year’s Day processions with decorated floats and bands are a
part of New Year, and football is also played all over the United
States on New Year’s Day. In Europe, New Year was often a time for
superstition and fortune-telling, and in some parts of Switzerland
and Austria, people dress up to celebrate Saint Sylvester’s Eve.
In AD 314, there was a Pope called Saint Sylvester, and people
believed that he captured a terrible sea monster. It was thought
that in the year 1000, this sea monster would escape and destroy
the world, but since it didn’t happen, the people were delighted.
Since then, in parts of Austria and Switzerland, this story is
remembered at New Year, and people dress up in fantastic costumes,
and are called Sylvesterklauses.

In Greece, New Year’s Day is also the Festival of Saint Basil.
Saint Basil was famous for his kindness, and Greek children leave
their shoes by the fire on New Year’s Day with the hope that he
will come and fill the shoes with gifts.

In Scotland, New Year is called Hogmanay, and in some villages
barrels of tar are set alight and rolled through the streets.
Thus, the old year is burned up and the new one allowed to enter.
Scottish people believe that the first person to enter your house
in the New Year will bring good or bad luck, and it is very good
luck if the visitor is a dark-haired man bringing a gift. This
custom is called first-footing.

The song, Auld Lang Syne is sung at midnight on New Year’s Eve,
and this custom is now celebrated all over the world.

7 – Interesting Facts
———————
1) 4,000 people are injured by tea pots every year.
2) A 60-minute cassette contains 565 feet of tape.
3) A coat hanger is forty-four inches long if straightened.
4) A good typist can strike twenty keys in a second.
5) A toothpick is the object most often choked on by Americans
6) A typical double mattress contains as many as two million house
dust mites.
7) All hospitals in Singapore use Pampers diapers.
8) An average of 200 million credit cards are used every day in
the United States.
9) As of 1983, an average of three billion Christmas cards were
sent annually in the United States.
10) Colgate faced a big obstacle marketing toothpaste in Spanish
speaking countries. Colgate translates into the command “go hang
yourself.”

8 – Quiz Answers
—————-
Here are the answers from section 1:
a) little
b) few
c) a little
d) a few
e) a little
f)  a few
g) a little
h) a few

9 – Tell Your Friend
——————–
If you want to have this information newsletter sent to a friend,
you can now do the following:
Go to http://www.englishpractice.com/friend.htm and
fill in the form.

10 – Removal
————
If you are no longer interested in receiving this newsletter,
please send a message to newsletter@englishpractice.com with your
e-mail address in the subject. Thank you.

11 – FEEDBACK
————-
Englishpractice.com is interested in hearing your opinions
about our latest announcements and developments. Please forward
your comments to info@englishpractice.com.

In this issue…

–Feature Novice Lesson–

1 – Quiz
2 – New Words from the Vocab Club
3 – Student Essay
4 – Comments on the Essays
5 – Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives
6 – Stupid Quotes
7 – Interesting Facts
8 – Quiz Answers
9 -  Tell Your Friend
10 – Removal
11 – Feedback

–Feature Lesson– NOVICE–
Attention Beginners! If our lessons are too difficult and you want to practice VOCABULARY with PICTURES, try our feature NOVICE lesson. You can
also practice the pronunciation of all of the words. Parents, this lesson will
be good for your children who are just starting out.

Study the Feature Novice Lesson

Remember: We also have some great software available for purchase so
that you can study offline!

Visit the Store

1 – Quiz
Study the possessives in Part 5 and then complete the following sentences with the correct possessive pronoun or adjective.  Answers are in section 8.

a) I’m driving my car and my brother is driving ______.
b) It’s cold outside.  Tell Susan to wear ______ jacket.
c) That old dog lost ______ tail in an accident.
d) He has his book and I have ______.
e) Did you bring your tickets?  We have ______.
f)  ______ house was destroyed in a fire, but they are OK.
g) I brought my lunch to work.  Did you bring ______.
h) They usually visit ______ friends on Saturday.

---

2 – New Words From The Vocab Club
Our Daily Vocab Club has learned seven new words this week. Here are the seven new words:

Pity = to feel sympathy and sorrow for one suffering. (verb)
Quarrelsome = to be disposed to argue. (adjective)
Recollect = to remember. (verb)
Scowl = to contract the brow in an expression of displeasure. (verb)
Taxing = be difficult and tiring. (adjective)
Underway = to be in motion or progress. (adjective)
Vapor = a gas that impairs the transparency of the air. (noun)

The EnglishPractice Assistant is now shipping. Thank you to
all who finished your 60 words. When new students are done, they
will get a link to the new software!

Click here to visit the Daily Vocab Club
and learn more about our new words!

---

3 – Student Essay
If you have enjoyed reading the student essays, you can find more to read here. Because only one essay can be chosen to appear in the newsletter, other excellent essays submitted to us recently will be posted. The essays available to read will change regularly. This essay was submitted by Mip9342.

It is very difficult to determine whether tobacco companies are allowed to advertise. Everything has two sides, just like a coin. You can choose either head or tail. Let us start by looking at the positive side if the tobacco is
allowed to be advertised. Firstly, the consumer will be protected. This is because all the information about the tobacco will be placed publicly.
Allowing the customer to make their own decisions if they would like to
smoke or not. And if so, which brand they should take.  Especially, for the young people, they will have chance to learn more about it. Secondly, being advertised will be barred from unfairly competition. Because everybody can
see whether the advertised information is exagerrated or not. However, by allowing freely advertisement on tabacco will be harmful as well. If the young people who is not mature enough, cannot judge and balance the advantages and disadvantages of smoking.  They might be misled by the advertisement and start to learn how to smoke easily. So as I mentioned at the beginning, there is no concrete line to determine if the tobacco should be allowed to advertise freely, depending on which side that you are looking at. In my opinion, I prefer that the advertiseement on tobacco should be allowed under the control of the authorities concerned.

——————————————————————————————————————

---

4 – Comments about the Essay

This week we have another interesting essay on tobacco advertising.  This essay is very well done and presents well thought out and insightful
arguments to support both sides of this debate.  A person interested in
getting the main points of this issue could simply read this essay!  It’s very concise and presented in an easy to understand manner.  Good essay!

There are just a few points which need to be considered in correcting this essay. Several times in the essay you refer to “the tobacco”.  In this situation you shouldn’t use “the”.  You are simply talking about the general product of tobacco and not something specific – no article is needed.  Later you say “if the young people who is not mature…” in this case you should use the verb “are” to agree with the plural “people”.  Also be careful of a few spelling mistakes – exaggerated, advertisement, etc.  Apart from these small points this is really an excellent essay!  Very well written and your ideas clearly presented.  Keep going with your English study – you’re doing great!

Good Work Mip9342!!

---

5 – Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives

Understanding and Using Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives:

You can use possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives to show possession or ownership of something.  These are very commonly used in English and are important to remember.  Look at the words in the following lists and notice the different uses of pronouns and adjectives.

Possessive Pronouns                   Possessive Adjectives

I have mine.                                 I have my coat.
You have yours.                          You have your coat.
She has hers.                             She has her coat.
He has his.                                 He has his coat.
We have ours.                            We have our coats.
You have yours.                          You have your coat.
They have theirs.                        They have their coats.
————————                   I have a coat.  Its color is blue.

As you can see, the possessive pronoun and possessive adjective sentence has the same meaning except that possessive pronouns do not have a noun following them and possessive adjectives always have nouns following them.

Be VERY CAREFUL with the possessive adjective Its.  This is a possessive.  Do not confuse it with It’s (using an apostrophe) – this means it is (or it has).

Try the quiz in Part 1 to check your understanding of possessives.

---

6 – Stupid Quotes

“If we don’t succeed we run the risk of failure.” – Dan Quayle (Former U.S. Vice-President)

“I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix.” – Dan Quayle

“Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life.” – Brooke Shields During an interview to become spokesperson for a federal anti-smoking campaign.

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” – Thomas Watson (Chairman of IBM, 1943)

“Whenever I watch TV and I see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean I would love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff.” – Mariah Carey (Singer)

---

7 – Interesting Facts
1) Leonardo da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time.
2) Leonardo da Vinci invented the concept of the parachute, but his design was fatally flawed in that it did not allow air to pass through the top of the chute. Therefore, the chute would not fall straight, but would tilt to the side, lose it’s air, and plummet.
3) Leonardo da Vinci invented the scissors.
4) Leonardo da Vinci spent twelve years painting the Mona Lisa’s lips.
5) Despite his great scientific and artistic achievement, Leonardo daVinci was most proud of his ability to bend iron with his bare hands.
6) All 17 children of Queen Anne died before she did.
7) Elizabeth 1st suffered from anthophobia (a fear of roses).
8) George Washington had to borrow money to go to his own inauguration.
9) King Tut’s tomb contained FOUR coffins. The third coffin was made from 2,500 pounds of gold. And in today’s market is worth approximately $13,000,000.
10) While performing her duties as queen, Cleopatra sometimes wore a fake beard.

---

8 – Quiz Answers
Here are the answers from section 1:

a) his
b) her
c) its
d) mine
e) ours
f)  their
g) yours
h) their

---

9 – Tell Your Friend
If you want to have this information newsletter sent to a friend,
you can now do the following:
Go to http://www.englishpractice.com/friend.htm and
fill in the form.

---

10 – Removal
If you are no longer interested in receiving this newsletter,
please send a message to newsletter@englishpractice.com with your
e-mail address in the subject.
Thank you.

---

11 – FEEDBACK
Englishpractice.com is interested in hearing your opinions
about our latest announcements and developments. Please forward
your comments to info@englishpractice.com.

Thank You!

]]>

It’s not easy to be a distinctively Christian family in the twenty-first
century – but has it ever been? There are always vital issues affecting our
families that make it difficult for us to maintain our distinctiveness for
the Lord in an ungodly, sinful environment. One of the most destructive
influences in our day is the effect of worldliness.
We live in a beautiful world that God created for our pleasure. But the
“world” we’re referring to in this article is the satanic system that
operates and rules within our natural world. Ephesians 6:12 speaks of it
this way: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” And 2 Corinthians 4:4
says this about it: “The God of this world hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not.”
Christian families are in this world to have a dynamic, godly influence on
those around them. But, instead, the world is having a greater impact on
Christian families. Too many look, act, think and talk just like the world,
and thus have little or no influence for God upon the world. We dare not
forget that this world is ethically bad, morally corrupt, and spiritually
bankrupt. We do not need the world, but the world needs us!

The Cause
First John 2:15-17 tells us not to love the world or the things that are
characteristic of the world. The passage goes so far as to say that those
who love the world are void of the love of God. In other words, the basic
cause of worldliness is loving the world more than we love God.
As we evaluate our home and family life, would we say there is more evidence
of our love for God or the world? The TV programs we watch, the videos we
buy or rent, the books and magazines we read, the places we go, the
pleasures we enjoy, the type of clothing we wear, the music we listen to,
the way we treat each other, the things we talk about, are all making a bold
statement about what we love. Do they say we are a family that loves God or
a family that loves the world?

The Curse
What makes worldliness so destructive is that the world wants to make us
like it is. Romans 12:2 says we should not be “conformed to this world.” The
world desires to squeeze us into its mold so that we become like it. The
world is very smart. It knows that if it can make us like itself, it has
destroyed our distinctiveness and testimony as Christians. Once that
happens, we lose our effectiveness for God.
If we become like the world, we have nothing to offer the world. It’s that
simple. In Deuteronomy 7, God gives three specific prohibitions to His
people, Israel, as they prepare to enter the promised land: do not worship
their gods (7:5); do not intermarry with them (7:3); do not adopt their
lifestyle (7:6). God did this because they were His special people who
belonged exclusively to Him: “Thou art a holy people unto the LORD … the
LORD God hath chosen you to be a special people unto Himself” (7:6). If they
surrendered their distinctiveness they would be ineffective for God. First
Peter 2:9-12 says the same thing to those who have been saved out of this
world by God’s grace. Is our family impacting this world for Christ, or is
the world impacting our family for the enemy?

The Cure
If worldliness is having a damaging effect on Christian families, God’s Word
tells us how we can reverse this and develop our effectiveness for the Lord:
by the power of a transformed life (Rom. 12:1-2); by understanding God’s
will for our family (Gal. 1:4); by refusing to be affected by the world
(Jas. 1:27); by living totally dependent upon God (1 Jn. 5:4). Our faith
enables us to overcome the world instead of being overcome by the world.
Our only hope as Christian families is to be so totally yielded to God that
the world can find no place to begin its destructive work in our personal
lives, our marriages, or our families.

youthhouse@yahoogroups.com

Bagaimana seharusnya hubungan suami-suami kepada istri-istri mereka? Ada dalam Alkitab,“Hai suami, kasihilah isterimu sebagaimana Kristus telah mengasihi jemaat dan telah menyerahkan diri-Nya baginya untuk menguduskannya, sesudah Ia menyucikannya dengan memandikannya dengan air dan firman, supaya dengan demikian Ia menempatkan jemaat di hadapan diri-Nya dengan cemerlang tanpa cacat atau kerut atau yang serupa itu, tetapi supaya jemaat kudus dan tidak bercela. Demikian juga suami harus mengasihi isterinya sama seperti tubuhnya sendiri: Siapa yang mengasihi isterinya mengasihi dirinya sendiri” (Efesus 5:25-28). Suami-suami seharusnya menghormati istri-istri mereka. Ada dalam Alkitab,”Demikian juga kamu, hai suami-suami, hiduplah bijaksana dengan isterimu, sebagai kaum yang lebih lemah! Hormatilah mereka sebagai teman pewaris dari kasih karunia, yaitu kehidupan, supaya doamu jangan terhalang” (1 Petrus 3:7).

Bagaimana seharusnya hubungan istri-istri kepada suami-suami mereka? Ada dalam Alkitab, ”Hai isteri, tunduklah kepada suamimu seperti kepada Tuhan, karena suami adalah kepala isteri sama seperti Kristus adalah kepala jemaat. Dialah yang menyelamatkan tubuh. Karena itu sebagaimana jemaat tunduk kepada Kristus, demikian jugalah isteri kepada suami dalam segala sesuatu” (Efesus 5:22-24).

Apakah ini berarti bahwa istri harus melakukan segala sesuatu permintaan suami? Tidak! Perkawinan memintakan sifat tunduk dari kedua-duanya. Ada dalam Alkitab,”Untuk menghormati Kristus, hendaklah kalian tunduk satu sama lain” (Efesus 5:21, BIS).

Nasehat apakah yang melarang kekasaran perkataan atau fisik terhadap pasangan perkawinan? Ada dalam Alkitab,”Hai suami-suami, kasihilah isterimu dan janganlah berlaku kasar terhadap dia” (Kolose 3:19). Untuk suatu perkawinan yang sukses, bertekadlah untuk menyelesaikan salah-pengertian segera. Ada dalam Alkitab,”Apabila kamu menjadi marah, janganlah kamu berbuat dosa: janganlah matahari terbenam, sebelum padam amarahmu” (Efesus 4:26).

Jagalah hubungan tetap bertumbuh dalam persatuan dan pengertian. Ada dalam Alkitab, ”Hendaklah kamu selalu rendah hati, lemah lembut, dan sabar. Tunjukkanlah kasihmu dalam hal saling membantu. Dan berusahalah memelihara kesatuan Roh oleh ikatan damai sejahtera” (Efesus 4:2-3). Bagaimana seharusnya masyarakat memandang perkawinan? Ada dalam Alkitab,”Hendaklah kamu semua penuh hormat terhadap perkawinan dan janganlah kamu mencemarkan tempat tidur, sebab orang-orang sundal dan pezinah akan dihakimi Allah” (Ibrani 13:4). Dengan perintah apakah Allah menjaga perkawinan? Perintah ketujuh dan kesepuluh. Ada dalam Alkitab,”Jangan berzinah” dan “Jangan menginginkan kepunyaan orang lain: rumahnya, istrinya” (Keluaran, 20:14, 17, BIS).

Apakah satu-satunya alasan yang masuk akal yang Yesus berikan sehubungan dengan berakhirnya sebuah perkawinan? Ada dalam Alkitab,”Tetapi sekarang Aku berkata kepadamu: barangsiapa menceraikan istrinya padahal wanita itu tidak menyeleweng, menyebabkan istrinya itu berzinah, kalau istrinya itu kawin lagi. Dan barangsiapa yang kawin dengan wanita yang diceraikan itu, berzinah juga” (Matius 5:32, BIS).

Untuk berapa lamakah perkawinan itu dimaksudkan? Ada dalam Alkitab,”Seorang wanita yang bersuami, umpamanya, terikat oleh hukum kepada suaminya hanya selama suaminya masih hidup. Kalau suaminya mati, istri itu bebas dari hukum yang mengikatnya kepada suaminya” (Roma 7:2, BIS).

Petunjuk apakah yang diberikan sehubungan dengan pasangan perkawinan? Ada dalam Alkitab, ”Janganlah mau menjadi sekutu orang-orang yang tidak percaya kepada Yesus; itu tidak cocok. Mana mungkin kebaikan berpadu dengan kejahatan! Tidak mungkin terang bergabung dengan gelap” (2 Korintus 6:14).

Romantika dan karunia seks diberkati oleh Allah apabila dilakukan dalam ikatan perkawinan. Ada dalam Alkitab,”Sebab itu, hendaklah engkau berbahagia dengan istrimu sendiri; carilah kenikmatan pada gadis yang telah kaunikahi — gadis jelita dan lincah seperti kijang. Biarlah kemolekan tubuhnya selalu membuat engkau tergila-gila dan asmaranya memabukkan engkau” (Amsal 5:18-19).

Kunjungi: Bibleinfo.com

Ayam deng bebek ada bakudapa. Bebek mulai angka suara kong batanya pa Ayam.

Bebek:  “Ayam, ngana pe tolor harga brapa dang orang ja jual di pasar Karombasan?”
Ayam:  “Kiapa lei ngana moo ondersuk tanya-tanya ta pe tolor pe harga so?”
Bebek:  “Nyanda kwa, kita cuma tanya toohhh. Masak nembole tanya?”
Ayam:  “Per butir kita pe tolor de pe harga Rp 1.450. Kalu ngana dang Bebek, berapa ngana pe tolor pe harga?”
Bebek:  Ooh, kalu kita lebe mahal dari ngana. Ta pe tolor dorang jual Rp 1.500.”
Ayam:  “Kong kiapa dang ngapa pe tolor lebeh mahal dari kita?”
Bebek:  “Soalnya khan ta pe tolor lebeh basar daripada ngana pe tolor, toooh??”

Ayam ta badiang. Bebek langsung kase usul “menarik”…

Bebek:  “Tagal itu kwa ngana Ayam, kaseh basar ngana pe tolor supaya lei ngana pe tolor mahal sama deng kita no. Sapa tau lei lebeh mahal.”

Ayam (dengan sewot):  “Iiiihhhh, berenti lei… cuma deng tu 50 perak kong ta pe panta mo tarabe… Sori jo eeeee… !!!!!”

http://beritamanado.com/category/humor-manado/

// <![CDATA[
/*